Effects of housing on social preference and behaviour in male golden hamsters (Mesocericetus auratus) (1990)

Arnold, C. E., Estep, D. Q.

Abstract

One strange male was introduced into a group of 4 littermates in a barren 5-chamber cage without preliminaries, and left with the stimulus animals for about 46 h. ... The hamsters showed an overall preference for being with conspecifics and better growth when housed in same-sexed groups [of 5 males; rather than singly], thus supporting the conclusion that hamsters do not prefer being housed individually. However, 40% of the animals showed evidence of wounding.